1:11 AM,
Aug. 17, 2013

Written by

Jens Manuel Krogstad
and Grant Rodgers

Hundreds of Iowa inmates sentenced as juveniles to lengthy prison terms could apply to have their sentences reviewed under three decisions handed down Friday by a divided Iowa Supreme Court.

In the most high-profile case, Iowa's high court upheld a decision to reduce the sentence of Jeffrey Ragland, 44, who was sentenced at age 17 to life in prison without parole. He was convicted of murder, even though he did not swing a tire iron that killed a man. Under the reduced sentence, Ragland is now eligible for parole because he has served more than 25 years in prison.